Newcastle's U23 side concluded their PL2 campaign on Sunday afternoon with victory over their Teesside counterparts at a sunny Riverside Stadium.

Having already qualified for the playoffs, United needed three points to have any chance of gaining home advantage but remain fourth on goal difference and now face a trip to either Southampton or Reading.

The identity of their opponents will be confirmed on Monday, after the Saints host the mackems.

Half time arrived with neither side finding the net, but the hosts shading it and denied a goal when Kelland Watts cleared Stephen Wearne's effort off his own goal line.

However an improved display from the black and whites after the break brought reward on 70 minutes through Thomas Allan.

Newcastle won a free kick that home goalkeeper Brad Jones was equal to, but some slack play out of defence then followed and Allan picked up possession outside the box before converting with a low shot for his fifth league and cup goal of the season.

An equaliser looked to have arrived on 85 minutes following a corner kick, but Nathan Wood was twice denied from close range by a combination of goalkeeper Nathan Harker and the goal frame.

Boro - who won 3-1 on Tyneside back in October - are coached by SJP old boy Paul Stephenson and included former Magpie Dan Ward in their starting lineup.

However it's confirmed that the midfielder has been released by the Teessiders and his time in a red shirt was curtailed by a foot injury that saw him limp off midway through the second period.

Premier League 2 Division 2 - top six: (22 game season) 

In the playoff semi-finals (which are a single game), the second-placed team are at home to the fifth and the third-placed host the fourth.

Home advantage in the final goes to the finalist that finished highest in the main season.

Top five - remaining games: 

29.04.2019 Aston Villa v West Brom
29.04.2019 Southampton v mackems

Biffa